For the first time that evening, I wondered whether I should stop expecting the situation to improve quickly and start preparing for a night without a clear plan.
That was when I noticed the stranger.
They were standing near the far end of the waiting area, separated from the busiest part of the crowd. At first, I barely paid attention. People stood alone in bus stations all the time, especially when they were waiting for someone.
But something about the way the stranger watched the room made me look again.
They did not seem particularly hurried. They were not checking a departure screen or arguing with a ticket clerk. Instead, they appeared to be observing the people around them.
I looked away, telling myself that I was tired and allowing my imagination to turn an ordinary scene into something unusual.
A few minutes passed.
When I glanced back, the stranger was still there.
